Football Season Review

It was another fantastic season for Tranmere Rovers which ended in more celebrations after winning promotion at Wembley. Just 12 months earlier they returned to the Football League after beating Boreham Wood in the play-off and they repeated the feat; this time snatching a last minute winner in extra time to beat Newport County to reach League One. Manager Micky Mellon will be delighted with back-to-back promotions and it is a remarkable achievement having lost their leading goalscorer Andy Cook to Walsall last summer. Fortunately striker James Norwood stepped into the breach and had a sensational campaign, scoring 32 goals in all competitions. He was ably assisted by striker-partner Connor Jennings, who contributed 13 goals whilst Scott Davies was an ever-present between the sticks. Manny Monthe was a colossus in the centre of defence whilst the January capture of midfielder David Perkins proved crucial. Rovers remained strong at Prenton Park, losing just four all season, but struggled to match that form on their travels. Norwood’s goals almost took them to automatic promotion but they were happy to finish in the play-offs and saw off Forest Green Rovers in the semi-finals before Jennings grabbed the last-gasp winner at Wembley. The club are in a healthy position heading into League One and will be hoping promotion will be enough to persuade the in-demand Norwood to remain in Birkenhead.

Player of the Season: James Norwood